Organization: The Deep Well Project and Hospice Care of the Lowcountry

Town: Hilton Head Island

Involved for: About six years with each

Position: Jackson volunteers every Monday afternoon at The Deep Well Project, answering the phone, helping clients and entering information into the computer. She also fills in when others need time off. On top of that, she volunteers with Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, sitting and talking with patients.

A good feeling. I feel that I need to do something for the community. When I work at Deep Well, I just think, "There but for the grace of God, go I." I started with Hospice because I had them for my husband when he was quite ill, and I thought it was an unbelievable organization. I waited a few years after he died, and then I started volunteering with them. I really feel that when you do these things during the day, you really feel good about yourself at night, if you can help someone in some way.

Busy schedule. On Saturdays and Sundays, I work for Southwind Management. They own a lot of timeshares on the island. I inventory the villas before the client comes in. And I work part-time. Dentistry has been my field all my life. There's a doctor on the island, and when his dental assistant wants a day off, she will call me, and I can fill in for her. I drive to Savannah two nights a week for fencing, and I also belong to the Palmetto Rowing Club. I've been doing this for a month. I skull. It's the skull boats. I do that two mornings a week.

Count your blessings. Be tolerant of everybody. Be thankful for what we have and where we live. I hope (people around us) see that even when you get older and things don't go your way, not to just sit back and complain. Just be thankful for the ability to continue on.

Helping God's children. When I help people who are sick or just hit a rough spot in their life, I always think that they are someone's child. Something they all have in common is they are all God's children. Volunteering answers the question, "What would Jesus do?"